Big ticket health projects keep pace with a ballooning Melbourne population
The State Government yesterday pledged another $562 million toward greater Melbourne's already hefty multibillion-dollar hospital development pipeline.
Contingent upon the incumbent government being re-elected, funds will flow toward an expansion of Frankston Hospital. Initial plans would realise an 11-storey dual-winged hospital next to existing Frankston Hospital facilities that would provide an all-encompassing health services complex.
The expansion includes 120 new beds, two new operating theatres, a maternity ward, obstetrics ward, women’s clinic, children’s ward and special care nursery. Two floors are dedicated to mental health services, with an integrated cancer ward and day clinic set to treat patients who would otherwise travel to Melbourne for care.
Billed by Premier Andrews as "the biggest upgrade to an outer suburban hospital in the state’s history," construction is earmarked to begin in 2020 and would span four years, creating 1700 jobs over the life of the build.
Frankston Hospital is the latest in a lengthy line of hospital projects backed by both the public and private purse, all of which are aiming to cater toward a rapidly expanding Melbourne population.
Approximately a dozen major hospital projects are at various stages of development across greater Melbourne, with a quartet currently under construction. Headlining the build list is the $200 million Joan Kirner Women's and Children's Hospital located adjacent to Sunshine Hospital; designed by Lyons, Lendlease has taken to project to structural completion with lengthy fit outs to come.
Kane Constructions are overseeing Cabrini's Gandel Wing expansion, Built are working on an expanded Epworth Freemasons Hospital in East Melbourne whilst Watpac are overseeing a $135 million expansion of Casey Hospital on Melbourne's fringe.
The projects with approval that are yet to begin construction are also sizeable developments.
Epworth have a 60 metre hospital tower planned for Box Hill, and future expansion in mind along Erin Street at Epworth Richmond. Also John Holland has been installed as the head contractor for the new Melbourne Heart Hospital at Clayton; the $543 million project has a completion date of mid 2022 in mind.
A number of mooted projects are in the pipeline.
Soon to become the medical epicentre of Melbourne's northern suburbs, Epping may play host to as many as three new large-scale hospitals. Northern Hospital is about to see a new wing come to fruition, Generation Healthcare REIT and Healthe Care Australia are poised to bring a new $320 million hospital to the suburb whilst Prime Medical Property Group and Riverlee also have hospital development intentions in the area.
Western Health's Footscray Hospital has also been rumoured to be on the more to a new home adjacent to the Victoria University Footscray campus.
The most recent hospital to reach completion was Werribee Mercy Hospital; Multiplex undertook construction works on the Architectus-designed project with a construction value of $66.5 million.
